Some dramas have really high production standards until the last episode, then it seems everyone but the actors, director, and one cameraman goes home and the final episode is shot as quickly, cheaply as possible. I guess they figure that if somebody watched ten episodes, they will watch the eleventh too, but is there more to it?

I haven't noticed this, but I guess it's because there is a definite, immovable deadline for the last episode. Filming usually starts 2 to 3 months before the drama airs, but for the second half of filming, the drama is usually airing concurrently, so margin for error in the schedule becomes smaller and smaller. If the crew fell behind, they may have to rush and compromise to get that last episode out to air on the day for the finale. I am no expert but that's how I understand it.

Yet again, Last Friends comes to mind: the joke known as the "SP."

Anyone who doesn't feel cheated after watching that needs serious help.

The final episodes for the first season and SP of Nodame Cantabile were pretty darn satisfying to me, so while there are good examples of rushed endings or needless specials, there are quite a few gems as well

Sometimes a scheduled 11 or 12 episode drama gets canned because of poor ratings. If that happens, you'll be able to tell around the 7th episode. They gotta tie up the loose ends in one or two more shows.

deseipher wrote:

The final episodes for the first season and SP of Nodame Cantabile were pretty darn satisfying to me, so while there are good examples of rushed endings or needless specials, there are quite a few gems as well

LOL, our points of reference seem to be Nodame on the positive spectrum and Last Friends on the negative side...

In any conversation.

bmwracer wrote:

LOL, our points of reference seem to be Nodame on the positive spectrum and Last Friends on the negative side... In any conversation.

As Juri-chan fans, it's probably no surprise.

deseipher wrote:

As Juri-chan fans, it's probably no surprise.

Honto ni.

For every fantastic ending that we get with shows such as Nodame Cantabile and Odoru Daisousasen that ties everything up in a pretty bow and makes the show have somewhat of a closure, we have shows like Last Friends and SP that give us a rushed lame ending episode that is attempted to be remedied by a 2 1/2 hour clip show!

I swear, if there's one thing I don't get about any show cliche, it's having a recap episode. I get that casual fans usually won't be able to jump into the show quick, but clocking in under 12 episodes on average really doesn't give you any time for it!